Colgate's Peter Baum Takes Raider Goals Record in Stride

HAMILTON – Lost in the hoopla of Sunday's overtime season opener were a pair of goals contributed by Colgate's Peter Baum.

Those two scores in the middle of a see-saw affair not only helped the Raiders squeak past Bryant 14-13, they also made Baum Colgate's all-time leader in career goals with 132. He's now just six goals shy of the Patriot League record of 138.

"It's definitely not one of the things you think you'll ever get a chance to do when you enter college," Baum said. "But last year was a big year and that had a lot to do with it."

Baum led the country in 2012 with 67 goals and 97 points en route to capturing both the Tewaaraton and Lt. Raymond J. Enners awards as the nation's most outstanding player. He was a unanimous All-America choice and named the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Year.

Heading into this season, Baum obviously has the eyes of the lacrosse world glued squarely on his No. 15 jersey. He was the overall No. 1 pick by the Ohio Machine in January's Major League Lacrosse draft, and was a unanimous preseason choice to repeat as the Patriot League's top offensive performer.

But Baum was simply happy the Raiders escaped Rhode Island with a victory.

"To get things started off this year the right way with a win, that's the most important thing," he said. "Bryant is a tough team and they are on people's radar now. They will beat some teams this year and they have a great shot to win their conference and go to the NCAA tournament.

"To win an overtime game like that – to really get tested – will go a long ways."

Feeding the Hot Hands

Baum said he didn't have a great day shooting, but was happy to see his midfield teammates pick up the slack. The senior captain assisted on goals by both Matt Clarkson and Jimmy Ryan, who combined for nine of Colgate's 14 tallies.

"We got some great performances," Baum said. "It's definitely a new season and team's slide to me really quickly now. This year I may have to settle into a little bit more of a feeder-distributor role, and that's great if those guys can knock down shots.

"We will see how it evolves, but definitely it was great to lean on Matt and Jimmy. They did a great job."

Baum eclipses Bob Woodruff as Colgate's all-time goals scorer. Woodruff, who went on to fame as an ABC News anchor, scored his 131 goals from 1980-83.

Next up for Baum could be Colgate's all-time points record of 200 set by Derek Laub from 1990-93. Baum, who is Division I's active leader in goals and hat tricks (27), stands only 20 points shy of that Raiders mark.

"Knowing all the history of the program and all the guys who came before me and will come after me, it definitely means a lot to get that goals record," he said.